No. 11 Virginia Tech softball almost caught enough lucky breaks to erase a six-run deficit against No. 25 Duke on Friday, but surrendered a walk-off hit to lose 7-6.
The Hokies’ (22-3, 0-1 ACC) winning streak ended at 15 games.
With the Blue Devils (17-9, 4-0 ACC) up 6-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Virginia Tech catcher Zoe Yaeger slammed a fly ball to center field. The ball popped into D'Auna Jennings’s glove, then out, then over the fence for a home run. The Jose Canseco-esque homer put the Hokies on the board.
Designated player Kylie Aldridge then turned a bloop hit into a double, and second baseman Gaby Mizelle slammed a two-run homer, pulling within 6-3. Two fielding errors from the Blue Devils helped Tech put runners on second and third with two outs, but the home team escaped when Hokies left fielder Nora Abromavage grounded out.
The final frame brought anxiety for Duke, although the Blue Devils left Smith Family Stadium with a ranked win. Before then, though, Hokies first baseman Michelle Chatfield began the frame with a leadoff homer.
Later in the frame, second baseman Rachel Castine sent a high fly ball into left field, which fell and brought around pinch runner Lily Pallante and Mizelle for a two-run double. That tied the game, though shortstop Annika Rohs flew out and ended the rally.
Duke designated player KK Mathis began the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double, prompting Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour to remove Sophie Kleiman in favor of Bree Carrico. She induced two quick outs and almost gave her team another round of at-bats, until left fielder Adelyn Matthews hit a walk-off double.
“We’re always going to fight, so I wasn’t surprised that we came back in the seventh,” D’Amour told Tech Sideline after the game.
For five innings, the Hokies simply had no answer for Duke arm Cassidy Curd. Until Tech scraped some runs as her pitch count rose, Curd held her opponent — one of the best offenses in the country — in check.
“We had some good at-bats the whole game against their starter, who is very good,” D’Amour said.
Once Virginia Tech had finally tagged Curd for nine hits and three runs across 5 ⅓ innings, Duke head coach Marissa Young put Mallory Wheeler in the circle. In 1 ⅓ frames, Wheeler surrendered two hits and three runs. Larissa Jacquez picked up the final out and earned the win, though Tech notched a hit off her.
Hokies starter Emma Mazzarone struggled to hit the strike zone; she issued eight walks, tying her career-high. The previous time she gave up eight walks came on May 9, 2025, against Clemson in the ACC Tournament semifinals amid a downpour. That, combined with four hits, helped the Blue Devils cross home plate six times against Mazzarone.
Kleiman relieved her and fended off Duke for two-plus innings. She was charged with the game-ending run, though she held down the circle until Carrico entered.
Virginia Tech’s main issues came at the start of the game. Mazzarone walked three batters in the bottom of the first, then Duke third baseman Tyrina Jones nuked a grand slam over the center-field fence.
The Blue Devils’ lead grew to five runs when shortstop Jessica Oakland singled around second baseman Aminah Vega. For good measure in the fifth, pinch hitter Gabriella Shadek scored pinch runner Aleyah Terrell with a sacrifice fly.
“We gave them too many scoring opportunities,” D’Amour said. “We need to cut those in half tomorrow and we’ll have a chance at a better outcome.”
The Hokies have lost their last four contests against Duke, though they will have two more chances to end that streak this weekend. The first rematch will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
Box Score: No. 25 Duke 7, No. 11 Virginia Tech 6